BTCC 2018 silly season
Discussion
Isn't it a bit like cutting off your nose to spite your face? Sure, no team boss is going to be thrilled if their driver starts sniffing the air if a plum drive appears, but to give their best points scorer & race winner the elbow for what, probably Depper or equivalent, seems a bit childish. Its like Force India sacking Ocon when Rosberg suddenly retired, for giving Toto a call. Unless more has gone on.
Robmarriott said:
Looking at the timings of it all, this is exactly how it seems to me.
It’d be interesting to know exactly what time on Wednesday Mat’s contract was terminated and what time the Cammish contract was finalised (I presume this was also on Wednesday as Matt Neal tweeted about having ‘news tomorrow’ which was Thursday) then you’d have the answer!
If its true it's understandable. I can't imagine it was to much of a tough decision either. Considering that they already have Chilton and tordoff signed. Chilton tordoff and (for arguments sake) let's say depper, is still a stronger trio than last years starting drivers of Jackson depper and Davenport. Still a win for motorbase if you ask me. Mat Jackson to tcr UK is my bet. Whereever he goes there will be one angry jackson handing out his love taps in abundance. It’d be interesting to know exactly what time on Wednesday Mat’s contract was terminated and what time the Cammish contract was finalised (I presume this was also on Wednesday as Matt Neal tweeted about having ‘news tomorrow’ which was Thursday) then you’d have the answer!
Speed Badger said:
Isn't it a bit like cutting off your nose to spite your face? Sure, no team boss is going to be thrilled if their driver starts sniffing the air if a plum drive appears, but to give their best points scorer & race winner the elbow for what, probably Depper or equivalent, seems a bit childish. Its like Force India sacking Ocon when Rosberg suddenly retired, for giving Toto a call. Unless more has gone on.
BTCC teams aren’t like F1 teams, they’re not big organisations and the individual personalities and relationships dominate. By all accounts David has supported Mat and kept him in a drive so for him to try and jump ship after agreeing because he’s got the sniff of a better seat is a bit off if you ask me.Anyway I doubt Barty would have done it if he didn’t have a suitable replacement lined up
The Wookie said:
BTCC teams aren’t like F1 teams, they’re not big organisations and the individual personalities and relationships dominate. By all accounts David has supported Mat and kept him in a drive so for him to try and jump ship after agreeing because he’s got the sniff of a better seat is a bit off if you ask me.
Anyway I doubt Barty would have done it if he didn’t have a suitable replacement lined up
The kept him in a drive argument only goes so far you know that, at the end of the day while he’s handing the cash over to be in that car it’s his decision really whether to stay there or not. Aslong as the sponsors are happy for him to move and will still supply the budget... Anyway I doubt Barty would have done it if he didn’t have a suitable replacement lined up
True, but I bet most of the grid had Dynamics on speed dial after Shedden moved on. If that is what has happened, I can see from Mat & Barty's point of view, but they should have just shook hands and cracked on with it. A racing driver always wants the best car/team, and although Motorbase are damn good they are not the best. That Focus RS looks great though, wouldn't be a surprise to see it running ahead of the new Civic initially at least.
Speed Badger said:
True, but I bet most of the grid had Dynamics on speed dial after Shedden moved on. If that is what has happened, I can see from Mat & Barty's point of view, but they should have just shook hands and cracked on with it. A racing driver always wants the best car/team, and although Motorbase are damn good they are not the best. That Focus RS looks great though, wouldn't be a surprise to see it running ahead of the new Civic initially at least.
Perhaps and there are various going on in the paddock that people end up shaking hands on or simply forgetting but I think there was a loyalty aspect there that wasn’t reciprocated, and I can sympathise with Barty more than my namesake in this case.Perhaps I take things too personally though!
DanielSan said:
The kept him in a drive argument only goes so far you know that, at the end of the day while he’s handing the cash over to be in that car it’s his decision really whether to stay there or not. Aslong as the sponsors are happy for him to move and will still supply the budget...
Maybe, but as a member of the team you also develop your own relationships and friendships with the team sponsors and they may well have even expressed their preference for having Mat on board this year.For instance my family and I get on really well with Cobra Exhausts and if I had a golden opportunity come up I wouldn’t be able to feather my own nest without doing the right thing by them and the team.
Perhaps that’s why I’m not a BTCC race winner, although like Mat I certainly owe some of my success to Motorbase!
Fair one. It does make you wonder if Jackson has just had enough of being in a car that’s nothing but a reverse grid special and wants a proper shot at the title. Arguably his last really good chance in a consistent was back in the BMW. Like most of the teams from bits I’ve been told Motorbase are out to make money first as they’re a business but that has been known to come at the cost of extending the life of some parts beyond what they’re supposed to and the car losing performance/reliability as a result.
They obviously aren’t the only ones but for a te that bangs on year on year about a championship challenge maybe they should make a bit less profit and let the success of winning bring in more business?
I’m far from an expert and have never ran a race team but in my head at least it’s a logic that works. It’s certainly worked for some of the guys that prep historics.
They obviously aren’t the only ones but for a te that bangs on year on year about a championship challenge maybe they should make a bit less profit and let the success of winning bring in more business?
I’m far from an expert and have never ran a race team but in my head at least it’s a logic that works. It’s certainly worked for some of the guys that prep historics.
The Wookie said:
Perhaps and there are various going on in the paddock that people end up shaking hands on or simply forgetting but I think there was a loyalty aspect there that wasn’t reciprocated, and I can sympathise with Barty more than my namesake in this case.
Perhaps I take things too personally though!
There is one underlying issue I’ve just thought of, he’s already done some testing in the updated ‘RS’ Focus and has then gone and tried to get the Dynamics seat, could it be Dave Bartrum has also seen it as a big fPerhaps I take things too personally though!
k you and a vote of no confidence in a car they’re still to develop further? That’d make taking it personally more understandable.I don’t think you can really correlate success with income that easily, Motorbase probably does the best out of any of the independents with bringing in big name sponsors with decent budgets. You have to remember it is their livelihood, they’re running a straight business and it’s not a loss making marketing or hobby team like many of the others.
You can’t really compare historics, it’s more like club racing in that the success draws in better paying customer drivers (and some of them are paying big!) while sponsorship income is marketing so image and profile as a team is arguably cheaper than success.
People also like to denigrate BTCC as a pay driver series but it’s a real spread with a few big money drivers at one end and a few getting paid at the other, with the rest of the field being somewhere in between with the teams having to make that balance as to cash, marketability and driving ability.
Id be very surprised if it was a snub to the updated car, it was a manufacturer seat with a brand new car based at a team down the road from where he lives, almost certainly just a mercenary decision
You can’t really compare historics, it’s more like club racing in that the success draws in better paying customer drivers (and some of them are paying big!) while sponsorship income is marketing so image and profile as a team is arguably cheaper than success.
People also like to denigrate BTCC as a pay driver series but it’s a real spread with a few big money drivers at one end and a few getting paid at the other, with the rest of the field being somewhere in between with the teams having to make that balance as to cash, marketability and driving ability.
Id be very surprised if it was a snub to the updated car, it was a manufacturer seat with a brand new car based at a team down the road from where he lives, almost certainly just a mercenary decision
TBH I'm a little surprised at Jacko wanting to go to TD.
Can't help they thinking they strung him along with no intention of giving him a drive, remember Brands 2007? Neal senior was not a happy camper that day.
Curious as to who Shredded Wheat signed up with, Mat or Motorbase?
Sam T brings his own money (sponsors) and I'm guessing Tom C uses his dads.
Maybe Jacko went looking expecting that both ST and TC wanted No.1 status and he'd be second fiddle with old kit.
Can't help they thinking they strung him along with no intention of giving him a drive, remember Brands 2007? Neal senior was not a happy camper that day.
Curious as to who Shredded Wheat signed up with, Mat or Motorbase?
Sam T brings his own money (sponsors) and I'm guessing Tom C uses his dads.
Maybe Jacko went looking expecting that both ST and TC wanted No.1 status and he'd be second fiddle with old kit.
Thing I've always found a bit odd about MJ is that he talks like someone who wants to go places and win championships but he always seems to be carrying a few more kilos body weight than he should. If I was a team owner looking for success I'd want to see a driver motivated to a level that they are the best they can be at every level. There might be very good reasons why he looks a bit heavy but that's the impression I get from seeing him on the box.
Kraken said:
I'd want to see a driver motivated to a level that they are the best they can be at every level. There might be very good reasons why he looks a bit heavy but that's the impression I get from seeing him on the box.
Do you know what Kraken, rightly or wrongly I thought the same for a couple of seasons now.I think Motorbase will do well this year, they have a good driver lineup in my opinion.
Kraken said:
Thing I've always found a bit odd about MJ is that he talks like someone who wants to go places and win championships but he always seems to be carrying a few more kilos body weight than he should.
Jesus fking titty Christ! I've read some nonsense on these forums but that takes the biscuit. Motorbase got rid of MJ 'cos he's a fat bd. Really?DanielSan said:
Fair one. It does make you wonder if Jackson has just had enough of being in a car that’s nothing but a reverse grid special
Another one. Where are all these conspiracy theories coming from?MJ signed a contract with DB and Motorbase and they shook hands on it.
Due to a subsequent (and apparently, in MJ's eyes, a better) offer, MJ demands that the contract be terminated.
Motorbase stands by the letter of the contract (and everything else that has gone on over the years) and expects MJ to honour the contract.
But DB seriously pissed off.
Waits until the new driver for the alternative team in question is announced.
Then, as I said earlier, BANG!
That's all there is to it.
Sebring440 said:
Another one. Where are all these conspiracy theories coming from?
MJ signed a contract with DB and Motorbase and they shook hands on it.
Due to a subsequent (and apparently, in MJ's eyes, a better) offer, MJ demands that the contract be terminated.
Motorbase stands by the letter of the contract (and everything else that has gone on over the years) and expects MJ to honour the contract.
But DB seriously pissed off.
Waits until the new driver for the alternative team in question is announced.
Then, as I said earlier, BANG!
That's all there is to it.
There’s no conspiracy theory you penis, it’s an opinion... If the Focus is so great then why would he be looking elsewhere after agreeing a seat? Because the Honda will be a better car and he wants to win. Better car = better offer. It’s not like he’s being paid to drive, like all the others he’s paying to be in the car. MJ signed a contract with DB and Motorbase and they shook hands on it.
Due to a subsequent (and apparently, in MJ's eyes, a better) offer, MJ demands that the contract be terminated.
Motorbase stands by the letter of the contract (and everything else that has gone on over the years) and expects MJ to honour the contract.
But DB seriously pissed off.
Waits until the new driver for the alternative team in question is announced.
Then, as I said earlier, BANG!
That's all there is to it.
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